PRE-FILE INVESTIGATIONS IN FORT WORTH

Do you have reason to believe that the police are currently investigating you? Perhaps a friend, neighbor, or co-worker said the police were asking questions about you. Or, perhaps you swear you’ve seen detectives or someone following you.

If your instincts are right, you may be the target of a police investigation, otherwise known as a “pre-file investigation.” A pre-file investigation simply refers to an investigation that takes place before the prosecutor files official criminal charges against a suspect.

Often, what will happen is the police will receive a report of a crime. An officer will respond to the scene and after completing his initial investigation, he’ll transfer the case to a detective down at the station for further investigation. Once a detective takes over a case, he or she may engage in any of the following:

• Interview eyewitnesses
• Interview or interrogate suspects
• Check the suspects’ backgrounds
• Examine the evidence
• Arrange police lineups
• Collect new evidence
• Have the new evidence tested by the crime lab

If a detective gathers enough evidence that he or she believes they have a strong case against a suspect, next they’ll take the case to the prosecutor and see if the prosecutor is willing to press formal charges.

If the prosecution is convinced the detective has built a solid case, the next step is to ask the judge to sign an arrest warrant. Once the arrest warrant is issued, the local law enforcement will attempt to arrest the suspect, usually in the least dangerous way possible.

Often, the police will try to catch the suspect by surprise. For example, they’ll show up at the suspect’s home between the hours of 3 and 5 am, when most people are dead asleep and off-guard.

Are You Under Investigation?

Have you been pulled in for a police lineup? Were you in the wrong place at the wrong time, or did you make a mistake? Regardless of your circumstances, if you think you’re the target of a pre-file investigation in Fort Worth, I urge you to contact my firm for a free consultation.

When people are under investigation, there is much they can do, but it all starts with hiring an experienced and hard-hitting criminal defense attorney. Call today to see how I can help you!